General Provisions

Concerning the changes at Beaver Lake, this area is used by many local families and residents for fishing and yes, swimming/boating/paddle boarding. Its great to have options. Fishing is not as popular for many folks, so while my wife fishes - I do not and like to enjoy the lake in other ways. We buy the somewhat expensive fishing licenses to meet the requirements but will not if we are somehow 'required to fish' from our paddleboards. That seems very difficult to enforce honestly. Please do not discriminate against folks who want to enjoy the lake without fishing. Since the proposed probation is regarding vessels, you will still have a huge number of swimmers and locals out to enjoy a nice fake lake.

I believe these are great provisions that will protect our SWAs and return them to their original intended purposes. I thought it was great when the rules changed to require people who don't have a fishing ort hunting license to buy the SWA pass to gain access because of all the users that were using the lands/waters without paying their share before the rule change. But even with that rule change it doesn't seem like the CPW has the man power to enforce all the rules at all of these properties although I have to say that since the SWA pass I have noticed a lot more presence of wildlife officers at these areas which is a much appreciated change. It seems that few people are informed on the true reasons these SWAs exist and therefore feel entitled to recreate on these lands/waters. The population of Colorado has increased by almost 2 million people since I was a kid and has increased another 1 million since the 80s. This translates to a lot more people recreating and with more people recreating comes more pressure on our public lands meaning SWAs are increasingly becoming some of the last bastions for sportsmen to purse their passions in peace away from the hoards of people at places like State parks as well giving wildlife places to escape the ever growing Colorado urban landscape. It would be a shame to lose these properties to the ignorance of people and or a lack/removal of funding.

Concerning proposed changes to use regulations include: "The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting." Coloradoans who chose to enjoy wildlife in ways other than fishing or hunting should not be restricted from the waterways. I am happy to purchase a fishing license and contribute to funding the conservation of wildlife areas, however I prefer to watch the birds and wildlife in their natural environment instead of hunting or fishing. I am in support of regulations to limit overuse and minimize disruption of those fishing or hunting. I support State Wildlife Areas being for wildlife related activities and not general recreation however the definition needs to include more than just hunting and fishing.

Concerning proposed changes to use regulations include: "The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting."
I have purchased a fishing license in the past and for 2023 purchased an SWA Annual Recreation Pass and believe my recreational use (human-powered boating, hiking, bird watching) of nearby wildlife management areas is low impact. If the new regulation is implemented, I would no longer be allowed to paddle my sea kayak even though this activity does not leave behind such litter as spent ammunition casings, discarded monofilament line nor other fishing tackle.
If the concern driving the prohibition of recreation use is overuse, conflicting with the other sanctioned activities, then other ways of addressing the issue should be explored and implemented on a site-by-site basis rather than by general policy.
If the concern is for reducing use during sensitive periods, such as bird nesting, than that concern is better met by open and closed dates, again, by site.
Since I am paying my portion for the use of the SWA, I think I should have flexibility in how I choose to recreate there.
The areas I use regularly for boating are Boedecker Reservoir and the Loma Boat Launch and don't think these need additional restrictions.
I would also like to point out that a Colorado resident can now purchase a State Parks Pass for a much-reduced rate as part of an annual motor vehicles registration renewal. It might be wise to wait to see if this reduces recreational boating uses at SWA properties even though the impact might not be apparent in 2023.
Please do not implement the proposed changes to "The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting.".

Thank you.

Anne Fiore
Longmont CO

I support the proposed changes. State wildlife areas are meant to be for conserving wildlife and allowing people to experience the fish and wildlife in Colorado. The activities on the areas should be wildlife related.

I support the proposed changes.

We need to limit the use of drones and other aerial devices on our public lands. They disrupt the natural state of the land people are trying to enjoy.

Thank you CPW for the opportunity to hear our voices. Beaver Lake in Marble has turned into a zoo. The lake has become overrun with users that are not even fishing and enjoying the wildlife. This lake is basically designated for paddle boarders and party goers. I support your changes to general provisions to define vessels as actively fishing. Bravo for helping preserve this State Wildlife Area. Regulations are good but if their is no enforcement then it turns into entitlement.

I am totally pleased with your changes. The newer people coming in totally disrespect and trash these areas. No regard for anyone else. Everywhere you go poop and such in the areas. I live and use these areas just for what they were intended. Please clamp down and ticket those you find misusing them. They don't care about anyone but themselves muchless the resources. I hunt and fish these places. It is getting to the point that I may just may not buy all the licenses I do. If I treated them like some do I would expect to be ticketed. Thank you for considering the changes. Fish and game does good work.

I'm not sure why there are so many SWA's that are closed from Jan 1-July 15. It seems like this is a blanket timeframe designed to limit access for over 7 months out of the year. A ridiculous amount of time for as many areas as it seems to encompass. These times should be tailored to individual SWA's with an emphasis on erring on the side of MORE access rather than less. As usual, it appears as if the rules are intent on limiting access rather than increasing it. This needs to change.

I understand that there is a proposed regulation banning non-motorized watercraft at Beaver Lake SWA. Please do NOT approve this! Beaver Lake is a very popular location for many families to come enjoy the beauty of nature and peacefulness in Marble. While I do believe some kind of regulation is needed at this area, this is not it! Start with designated parking spots so 4-wheelers aren't doing donuts in the dirt parking lot and people aren't parking all along the roads. It needs regulating in that way but banning paddle boards, canoes and floats is just hurting the individuals and families that need those peaceful moments and communion with nature at a time when we all need to get out of cell service and float around a beautiful lake for our mental health! Perhaps a starting point could be limiting the hours for watercraft, but please do not completely take this away from so many who enjoy and appreciate it- and all who have purchased property there because of access to the lake. Thank you for reading my comments and I beg you to not do this.

Bravo! SWA's should be for wildlife and for people engaged in wildlife-related activities. In the beginning of Covid pandemic, I was crowded out of Radium SWA (hunting with my limited turkey license) by campers using the SWA for rafting the Colorado River (Isolating at home?). I agree with every one of the general provisions above: (1) watercraft to be used for fishing/hunting, (2) vehicle definitions and restricted to established roads, (3) water contact activities are not usually wildlife-related, (4) dogs are wildlifes' arch-enemy. People generally just let their dogs run, which damages wildlife. Hunting dogs are generally well-trained and controlled., (5) camping? See my initial comment on Radium SWA., (6) fires is a no-brainer, (7) permanent climbing hardware permanently damages trees, (8) drones are incompatible with wildlife, peace and quiet we seek at SWA's, with fair chase in hunting, and in the whole hunting experience. I have been flown-over by drones and hated the intrusion. Thank you for proposing (and hopefully implementing) these needed changes.

Thank you for your thoughtful work on new regulations for SWA, and thank you for the opportunity to offer feedback. Only one proposal concerns me, admittedly because it specifically impacts me and my family, and that is the restriction on vessels if they are not being actively used for hunting/fishing. My family and I have for years paddled our SUP in Franz Lake in Salida. We are respectful of those who are fishing being sure to not get too close. The lake is widely used in this manner by many, many people and it would be a shame to prohibit something that has been going on for such a long time. Most of those I have seen who are using their SUPs, or inflatable kayaks have been respectful and responsible. Additionally, Franz Lake is a very small lake and the trail around it has been used for decades by runners/walkers/bikers, etc. Being such a well used property makes it, in my opinion, too crowded for hunting. Lastly, I and others in my family all purchase fishing licenses and support SWA in that way, and we would like to see Franz Lake remain open to the use of non-hunting/fishing vessels.

Many people enjoy going out to a lake or reservoir and paddling their canoe, kayak, SUP or other vessel. It is fun to get outside and enjoy the great scenery in Colorado and paddling calms the soul. Colorado's State Wildlife Areas are beneficial to one's mental health. We should try to increase the number of SWAs, not restrict people from using them because they don't fish or hunt. When I first came to Loveland we could boat in Lake Loveland, but the City couldn't compete with the realtors and lost the surface rights. So I boated in Lonetree Reservoir. But the state couldn't compete on surface water rights and lost them to wealthy developers. I paddle my kayak in Boedecker now, but the redefinition of "vessel" may make that illegal. To float in Boedecker, you need either a fishing license or SWA pass, so I do contribute financially to its support. And I thank Colorado Parks and Wildlife for making the parking lot at Boedecker much smoother than it used to be.
Sometimes I wonder about our water laws in Colorado. No one owns the air. Why should some people own the water?
Cheers,
Roger Faaborg

General comment: The Western Slope and southeast Colorado need some SWAs designated for dog training, similar to the Cobb Lake and Banner Lakes units.

Our family are all avid outdoors people who live in Colorado because we love it here. We camp, fish, hunt, kayak, ride ATVs, etc... We are lovers of nature, but even more so, RESPECT nature, wildlife, the earth, the water, etc...
I, personally, am heartbroken at the lack of respect that many inividuals have for our lands and wildlife here. Last year we went to one of our favorite spots, and we were absolutely sick. There were so many "paddleboarders" on this mountain lake that we couldn't even fish, and they weren't biting, because they were all huddled at the bottom of the lake. Their trash and belongings also all over. And where do they urinate? Build them paddleboard parks and get them out of the mountains. We quit going to Taylor, because too many careless riders, who don't know rules and hand signals, and don't obey speed limits. We are all for getting people who don't respect our state parks and wildlife out of them. I also saw a bird that someone killed to eat hung up in a tree skinned near a campsite. I really think that people need to buy a pass to be in any state park, and with that should come mandatory registration into a class on safety and the rules for fishing, ATVing, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, camping and campsite fires, etc... There are a lot of people very uneducated about the outdoors. I see too much trash, people leave things, throw their trashed line and hooks in the water, and it's very sad that they are destroying our beautiful state. Please make some positive revisions for the good of the land and wildlife that live on it. Pretty soon there may be huge problems ahead. Food for thought!

Good start for managing SWAs for the purpose they were acquired for, wildlife related recreation and wildlife habitat. Increasing the public awareness of this and that the properties are not intended to be "parks" where every type of recreation is allowed, often to the detriment of wildlife or wildlife related activities, is a wise step to take.

As a boater, I believe we should have equal access to SWA. We have been required to have SWA pass or fishing or hunting pass. license and pay taxes. There is no good reason to restrict boats--kayaks, canoes, pack rafts, etc. We are unmotorized and do little or no damage to the environment. Where put-in or take-outs are difficult, SWA can help by building boat ramps. I frequently use the Roaring Fork near Glenwood and we put in easily there.

Proposed changes to use regulations include: "The definition of a vessel was modified and the use of vessels on state wildlife area waters has been restricted to those being actively used for fishing and/or hunting." As a recreational user of nearby wildlife management areas, I meet all requirements to do so, and yet I will not be allowed to do so even though my activities (bird and animal watching, exercise) have less impact on the area than the other accepted uses (hunting and fishing): I leave behind no spent ammunition casings, cause no physical damage (intended or unintended) to the area or its structures in firearm use, and leave behind no discarded monofilament line or other fishing tackle. Recreational use is, for the most part, benign. If the concern driving the prohibition of recreation use is overuse, conflicting with the other sanctioned activities, then limitations should be applied on a site-by-site basis rather than by general policy. If the concern is for reducing use during sensitive periods, such as bird nesting, than that concern is better met by open and closed dates, again, by site.

Hi, I really don't like the updated definition of "vessels" being changed to "vessels that are actively being used for hunting and fishing". I have an annual small game license, some years I have a combo small game/fishing license. As such, I am contributing to the support and upkeep of the SWAs regardless of how I chose to recreate any particular day. If I am in the mood to go for a paddle and not carry my fishing gear, then I would be involution of the SWA? That doesn't seem fair or right for the people that are supporting the SWAs. If I am paying my portion for the use of the SWA, I think I should have flexibility in how I choose to recreate there. I am thinking particularly of boating activities (kayaks, paddle board, canoes, etc), and I am ok with current regulations regarding mountain bikes. I'm an avid mountain biker too, but I recognize that mountain bikes have a larger impact on big game and terrestrial wildlife than small non-motorized watercraft has on aquatic wildlife. Adding this additional restriction to watercraft feels like CPW is restricting access to public lands that I am contributing to maintain. This is really bad, please do not do it.

This concerns me about lots of SWAs, but Dowdy Lake, Boedecker Reservoir and Loma Boat Launch are 1st to come to my mind, as I use them most, and don't think these need additional restrictions.
Brent Read
Fort Collins, CO

Yes! This all looks to be a big step in the right direction towards preserving SWA's for what they are purchased/lease for...wildlife related conservation and traditional outdoor uses.